Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM

Maersk Line plans to begin a new “multi-trade” reefer service in January 2009 that combines intra-European cargoes with worldwide feeder traffic.

Copenhagen, Denmark-based Maersk will phase in its Euromed service January 5 at Ashdod, Israel, with the 2,200-TEU Maersk Buton, one of four ships serving this network.

Euromed service will cater to combined reefer flows from North and South America, along with intra-Europe traffic, in one rotation.

The carrier said the sailing schedule will boost reliability via a direct service between northern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean and back to northern Europe. Sailing rotation is: Bremerhaven, Tangier, Gioia Tauro, Alexandria, Ashdod, Valencia, Felixstowe, Rotterdam, and Bremerhaven.